In an effort to further their mission, Muskegon Public Schools will partner with the national non-profit FoodCorps during the upcoming school year. FoodCorps is a national organization that connects kids to healthy food in school by using its team of AmeriCorps service members.

​What would you feed a child lunch if you only had three dollars and some change? Would that meal meet nutrition standards, including fresh fruits and/or vegetables? Could you prepare it from scratch and use local and organic products?
Imagine doing that for nearly two thousand kids, quickly, efficiently and with scarce help. That’s the challenge that each of our high schools are tasked with every single school day…feeding students at five high schools, nine middle schools, 30 elementary schools and a variety of adult and alternative education programs.

In an effort to encourage students to eat breakfast, MCS in collaboration with Chartwells, is piloting a Universal Breakfast program at Grissom, Longfellow and Sutton Elementary Schools and Southside Middle School. The first day saw 400 students participating with 689 during the second day. This nearly 60% increase is a good indicator that the breakfast program will be a success.

​Food stations serving up whole wheat pasta, salads and make-your-own-sandwich. Focus groups that weigh in on dining options and culinary choices. An online menu, easily accessible through a click on a website.

Shelbyville Middle School hosted the grand opening Wednesday morning of the new SMS Cafetorium, newly renovated by Chartwells K-12, the outside food services provider for Shelbyville Central Schools.
Jackie Blomeke, director of food services for SCS, said the new cafe is "a culinary-driven, open-concept cafe that offers more choices."

When Wayne Wells, executive chef with Chartwells, arrived at Clayton Valley two years ago he “could not stand the ‘open box, place in oven, heat-and-serve procedure.’” So he took his 40 years of experience in upscale dining and applied it to school food. This bento box is a clear example of the vision he’s brought to the dining program. The box includes Asian noodles and a five-spice chicken breast.

MSNBC stopped by to visit students at Reed City High School in Reed City, MI who are learning to grow their own produce through the school's bio dome class. Chartwells K12 parntered with the school to bring the fresh, student grown produce to the cafe as a part of their school meal program.

A Summer BreakSpot program that offers free nutritious meals to anyone 18 and younger all summer long has been started by the city and Duval County Public Schools to make sure children don’t go hungry in the community.